Tigers lose not only the match but coach as well

PREMIER League coach Robert Usher has indicated he would be handing over the job of leading Westlawn Tigers.

Westlawn signed off its 2014 season in Korora on Sunday, losing 3-1 to Northern Storm and finished the season two spots higher than last year in 8th place.

Usher has been the side's coach for the past four years, but noted that he and long-serving reserve grade coach John Nelsen won't be around to lead Westlawn into the 2015 season.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time at Westlawn these past four years and it's been great working with the boys. We've had a lot of fun," Usher said.

"This year was disappointing in many ways, but we gave it our best and played some really good football at times. It's a difficult league and we can be proud of what we've achieved."

Despite Sunday's result holding no significance on the outcome of the NCF PL ladder, the match was a fiery contest from the first whistle, with both sides battling it out in hot conditions.

And although Westlawn have endured a succession of frustrating results for most of their season, it was a solid display from a Tigers side that didn't have quite enough to take the points on the day.

Usher remained in a positive mood despite the defeat.

"This game was similar to most of the others we played this year," he said.

"We put in all the hard work but we still need to learn some things, which cost us in the end. That's football."

Westlawn had chances to take the lead, but Northern Storm was the dominant side in a scoreless first half. The game had a real edge to it, with plenty of bite in the tackles.

Northern Storm took the lead early in the second half but Westlawn equalised fewer than 10 seconds later. From the kick-off, James Joyce hurled the ball forward for Jack Hill to run on to. Hill received it a fair distance from the goal and at a wide angle. Incredibly, Hill lobbed the bouncing ball in off the far post with his left foot.

But while both sides had scoring opportunities, Northern Storm had the extra quality needed to take the score to 3-1 and win the game.

Northern Storm finished fifth but just missed out on the finals.

The Clarence Valley's other representation in the top tier, Maclean Bobcats, went down 6-1 to Sawtell Scorpions to end their campaign in seventh, three points ahead of Westlawn.